Northern Tool + Equipment

I grew up on Minnesota's Iron Range, between Hibbing and Chisholm. As a youngster, I worked for my father, whose scrap yard recycled industrial debris, such as old train parts and mining equipment. The Range is three hours north of the Twin Cities and it has an up-and-down economy. That has meant that sometimes there was a lack of access to the right equipment, so people there had developed a make-it-yourself mentality. While I was still a teenager, I started my own business, refurbishing and selling used hydraulic components to loggers.

After earning a degree in finance and business from the University of Minnesota–Duluth, I came down to the Twin Cities in 1972 and worked as an accountant for Montgomery Ward and Northwest Airlines. I then took a sales job at Ziegler, a heavy equipment dealer. But in 1980, sales of bulldozers, loaders, and the like were slumping, so Ziegler and I parted ways.

I responded to the situation with a Ranger's resourcefulness. I dusted off my hydraulics knowledge and set up shop in my garage, selling cylinders, valves and how-to manuals for log splitters by mail. Northern Hydraulics was born! My family was right there along side me, mailing catalogs, answering calls, taking orders, strapping packages, and coordinating the shipping.

As our business grew, we began adding other products such as tools, tarps, water pumps, snowplow parts, and air compressors. In 1981, we opened our first store, renting warehouse and showroom space in Burnsville, MN. What we couldn't get from suppliers, we often made ourselves. In 1991, we launched a manufacturing business that builds bigger, tougher products under the NorthStar brand, including log splitters, generators, pressure washers, and air compressors. In 1998, we changed our company's name to Northern Tool Equipment to better reflect our product offering.

Northern Tool Equipment remains my family's business today. I enjoy working with my sons, Ryan and Wade. Together, along with thousands of motivated employees, we are able to bring the things we value to millions of loyal customers. We continue to provide a large selection of useful products at a great price while backing them with product expertise and customer care. We provide you with the tools to tackle tough challenges. It's what a Ranger would do.

Donald L. Kotula 
Founder and Chief Executive Officer 
Northern Tool Equipment

Core values and mission statements only matter if you live them. It’s not enough to tack them up on the walls of the conference rooms and forget about them. At Northern Tool Equipment, we stay true to our values; we live them every day. We don’t chase the latest corporate fashion. We ground our business decisions in fundamentals.

CORE VALUES:
KNOW YOUR CUSTOMER

We keep our focus on the customer. We anticipate needs and deliver solutions.We work to develop a high level of cooperation and mutual respect. We establishlasting relationships.

PROVIDE VALUE

We don’t hesitate at Northern Tool Equipment. We make timely, informed decisionsthat drive us to meet our business goals. We pay attention to the road ahead andwork to eliminate roadblocks. We put our team in a position to succeed.

ACT WITH INTEGRITY

We take responsibility for our actions and gain the trust of our customers by demonstratingintegrity in our interactions with them. We treat people with fairness, honesty, and respect.We believe in straightforward communication.

EMPOWER THE INDIVIDUAL

We stay hungry at Northern Tool Equipment. We support and encourage opportunities for personal learning and development, and we empower our team members to take responsibility for their own development.

BE ENTREPRENEURIAL

We understand that innovation is the key to success. We grow our business because
we adapt to changing circumstances and embrace change. We find ways to make
change work for our business.

HAVE FUN

We take pride in what we do and support the efforts of our coworkers.
We acknowledge and celebrate our achievements.
Most of all, we stay positive and create new opportunities.

MISSION STATEMENT
Northern Tool Equipment is a family business that takes pride in our ability to equip you with the tools to tackle tough challenges. We strive to build lasting relationships and promote a fun and unique Northern experience.

I think a lot of companies ignore the discussion of values in the work place. Northern not
only embraces values, but clearly defines them and provides a process for recognizing
them in our employees every day.
– E-Commerce Team Member

TRUE NORTHERN
Since founder Don Kotula opened his garage door to the world in 1980, Northern Tool Equipment has stayed true to a vision that has guided the company ever since — building lasting relationships by providing the right solution for our customers. Today, Northern Tool Equipment has grown into a billion-dollar company that provides over 40,000 carefully
chosen tools via catalogs, website and retail stores. We seek talented people who wish to share their initiative, ideas and expertise; we develop and support our teams and we put them in a position to succeed. We know our customer, we provide value and we act with integrity. We are True Northern.

LARGE ENOUGH TO MATTER, SMALL ENOUGH THAT YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Can a family business be a major player? Taken together, Northern Tool Equipment’s operations generate over $1 billion in sales each year. Within our industry, Northern is a recognized leader. At the same time, Northern Tool Equipment is a family business in the ways that matter. Senior management is just down the hall or up the stairs from everyone in our headquarters building. Don Kotula isn’t an oil painting in the lobby — he’s walking the hallways and offering ideas (and wisdom) to the team.

WE BUILD LASTING RELATIONSHIPS
At Northern Tool, we’re far more interested in building relationships than we are in simply making transactions. Our customer base is exceptionally loyal, because customers know that we will give them the right solution. Our employees are loyal, too — we strive for low employee turnover, and we regularly celebrate work anniversaries at Northern. Every year, team members earn recognition for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, even 30 years of service.

CONTINUING GROWTH
From the beginning, Northern Tool Equipment has been on a continuous pattern of growth. By staying true to our Core Values, Northern has been able to maintain success in its operations and thrive in good times and in periods of uncertainty.

AN INDUSTRY LEADER
Northern is an industry leader. We listen to the customer and respond. We offer top-quality tools and expert advice to our customers.

A COMMITMENT TO INNOVATION
We have a manufacturing facility where we design, test and build world-class tools. Our merchants travel the world to find superior products.

WORK/LIFE BALANCE
As a family-owned business, we don’t just talk about work/life balance at Northern Tool Equipment. We have respect for personal lives; wherever possible, we strive for flexibility in work schedules and we maintain a relaxed, professional atmosphere. By treating our employees with respect and understanding, we are able to maintain a cohesive team.

There are no silos or closed doors. The atmosphere is really laid back and you get to
interact with people from all levels of the company. It’s not even a surprise when Don
Kotula stops you in the hallway and asks you if you want to see pictures from his trip!
– Finance Team Member

For me the culture is what makes Northern a great place to work. Every day
something different is happening that makes you feel you are part of something
special. From the Kotula family, to my fellow employees, and lastly our customers.
The loyalty, passion and drive that each person provides is truly the driver of our
culture and it provides a place of work that many wish they could be a part of.
– Merchandising Team Member